Skybus Airlines Inc. is the name used for the airline that runs privately in Columbus, Ohio. It carries out the operation in the form of a ultra-low-cost carrier having a model similar to that of the European airline.
This particular business model highlighted the use of advertisements on the interior as well as exterior of the aircraft and marketing of merchandise on the board. Further the airline made an application for operating approval as on January 1, 2005 and ultimately got it on March 15, 2006. Skybus Airlines landed up with the FAA certification on May 10, 2007. It also managed to receive a waiver to initiate with the marketing of ticket on April 24, 2007.
Skybus was earlier discovered in the late 1990s as Heartland Airlines by John Weikle and Ken Gile. As it was not able to get success, the project was left and years later started as Skybus Airlines. An announcement was made by Skybus Airlines on April 24, 2007 regarding the beginning of operations to eight destinations, which would all originate from the hub located at Port Columbus International Airport in Columbus.
Skybus Airlines received the permission to fly on international level to Mexico, Cancun and Nassau, Bahamas on July 24, 2007 by the U.S. Department of Transportation. It made an announcement to inaugrate new focus city at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina on October 22, 2007. It got the financial aid from companies at the local and national level.
Skybus Airlines managed to raise an amount of $160 million on April 2, 2007 in the form of initial capital. The finances were given out by big investors like Tiger Management (4.1%), Nationwide Mutual Capital (5%), Fidelity Investments (12.6%) as well as Morgan Stanley (6.4%). The other little investors were namely Wolfe Enterprises, Battelle Services Co. Inc and Huntington Capital Investment Co.
Skybus Airlines is criticised on the grounds that it does not provide opportunities of connecting to the passengers. Moreover this airline also charged extra money as fees for nearly everything even for baggage and food. The flight attendants working in this airline received payments at the rate of $9 per flight hour and did not received a per diem.
Skybus Airlines
